What is a source of funds check? It's a request from a gambling business to show where the money you deposit comes from, usually with bank statements or payslips. UK casinos use it to meet anti-money-laundering duties and to spot signs that someone may be gambling money they can't afford. It's separate from the ID check you pass at sign-up.
A source of funds check asks where your gambling money comes from, not who you are.
Casinos run it for anti-money-laundering reasons and as part of their duty to spot harm.
It's different from the financial vulnerability check at £150 net deposits in 30 days, which uses public records only.
Credit-reference ‘financial risk assessments’ were piloted but are not live as of October 2026.
Purpose
Anti-money laundering and harm prevention
Typical evidence
Bank statements, payslips, savings or sale records
Fixed trigger?
No; operator's own risk-based policy
Related check
Financial vulnerability check at £150 net deposits in 30 days
Bonuses during checks
Must stop if strong signs of harm appear
What is a source of funds check at a UK casino?
A source of funds check is a question about money, not identity. Once you've been verified as a real adult at a real address, a casino may later ask you to show the origin of the money you're depositing: a salary, savings, an inheritance, the sale of a car or a house. You answer with evidence, most often recent bank statements or payslips.
The Gambling Commission's page on why gambling businesses want to know about your finances (opens in a new tab) gives two reasons. One is anti-money laundering: bank statements help check that your source of funds is legitimate. The other is social responsibility: operators don't want customers falling into financial difficulty, so they look for signs that someone may be gambling with money they don't have.
Our source of funds glossary entry gives the short definition. The rest of this page explains when the check appears, what you might be asked for, how it differs from other checks, and how it relates to casino bonuses. For other account questions, see the casino bonus questions hub.
Source of funds vs ID checks vs financial vulnerability checks
Several different checks are often lumped together as ‘affordability checks’. The Commission itself says that phrase is inaccurate. Here is how they actually differ:
Four kinds of financial and identity check at UK casinos
Check
What it asks
When
Your involvement
Identity (KYC)
Who you are: name, address, date of birth
Before any deposit or play (since 7 May 2019)
Usually automatic; documents if needed
Financial vulnerability check
Public-record signs such as bankruptcy, CCJs, IVAs
When net deposits pass £150 in a rolling 30 days (since 28 February 2025)
Source of funds check example: how the numbers add up
Take a customer who deposits £100 in week one, £80 in week two and withdraws £20 in week three. Their net deposits over those 30 days are £100 + £80 − £20 = £160. That passes the £150 threshold, so the operator must run a financial vulnerability check against public records. Nothing is asked of the customer; if no warning signs appear, play continues as normal.
A source of funds request is a different step. The Commission doesn't publish a cash threshold for it, so each operator sets its own risk-based triggers. A pattern of large or fast-rising deposits, deposits that look out of line with the customer's apparent circumstances, or money arriving from several payment methods could all lead a casino to ask for evidence. Under VIP rules in force since 31 October 2020, operators must also hold up-to-date source-of-funds evidence before treating someone as a high-value customer; see VIP scheme rules.
The figures in this example are illustrative. We don't know any operator's internal trigger points, and they aren't published.
What documents can a source of funds check ask for?
According to the Commission's player guidance, requests can include bank statements, information about irregular income (a pending house sale is the Commission's own example) and limits set against your income using open-source data and Office for National Statistics publications. Requests may come directly from the casino or through a third party acting for it.
Bank statements covering the period of your deposits, showing the money arriving and leaving.
Payslips or a P60 to show regular earnings.
Savings or investment statements if the money came from savings.
Completion statements or sale documents for one-off sums such as a property or car sale.
Inheritance or gift letters where relevant, with supporting bank records.
You may be able to blank out unrelated transactions, but check first with the casino. Our guide on how to verify your casino account covers safe uploading.
How to respond to a source of funds request
Read the request carefully and note exactly which documents and date range are asked for.
Confirm the message is genuine by logging in to your account directly, not by clicking a link in an email or text.
Gather the documents and check that your name, the issuer and dates are visible.
Upload through the casino's own document tool and keep a note of the date.
If anything is unclear, ask support before sending more than is needed.
Use the pause to look honestly at how much you're depositing and whether you want to set a lower deposit limit.
What happens if you don't provide source of funds evidence?
The Commission's guidance on finances doesn't say what happens if a customer declines, so the outcome depends on the operator's terms and its legal duties. In practice an operator may restrict deposits or play until it's satisfied, because it can't keep accepting money it hasn't been able to check.
What the rules do protect is money already in your account. The Commission's guidance says un-staked deposits remain the customer's property and terms shouldn't allow confiscation of them, except where needed to meet a general regulatory obligation, and that funds shouldn't be removed because someone can't verify their identity. If you think a casino is treating you unfairly, use its complaints process and then its ADR provider; see where to complain about a casino and customer funds protection.
Source of funds checks and casino bonuses
Claiming a normal welcome offer doesn't trigger a source of funds check by itself. The partner offers on this site need deposits or bets of £10 to £20, well short of the patterns that typically prompt one. Where bonuses and financial checks meet is the harm side.
Under LCCP 3.4.3, in force since 12 February 2023, operators must stop marketing and new bonus take-up for customers showing strong indicators of harm. If a casino's checks suggest you may be gambling beyond your means, you may stop seeing offers. That is the rule working as intended. Our pages on bonuses and harm indicators and bonuses and gambling harm explain the link, and how affordability checks affect bonuses clears up the terminology.
Myths and facts about source of funds checks
Common misunderstandings
Myth
Fact
Only big winners get checked
Checks look at deposits and patterns, not just wins
It's the same as an affordability check
The Commission says ‘affordability check’ is inaccurate; source of funds is an AML and harm check
Credit-reference checks are now live for everyone
Financial risk assessments were piloted and are not live as of October 2026
A genuine request comes from a UK-licensed casino you hold an account with, appears in your account messages or can be confirmed there, and asks you to upload through the casino's own system. Be wary of anyone contacting you by text or social media asking for bank statements, passwords or card details. A casino will never need your online banking login.
Check the operator's licence on the Commission's register using the account number in its footer; our how to check a casino licence guide shows how. If you want to stop gambling altogether while sorting things out, GAMSTOP blocks all UK-licensed sites, and the National Gambling Helpline is free on 0808 8020 133.
Small-stake partner offers and what they ask of you
None of our partner welcome offers needs more than a £20 deposit, and all start from verified accounts. All are 18+, new customers only, terms apply.
Coral: bet £10 on slots after a qualifying deposit and get 100 free spins at 10p (£10 of spins), 48 hours to accept, 7 days to use, no wagering on winnings. Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards are excluded. Details on the Coral casino bonus page.
Ladbrokes: spend £10 on slots and receive 50 free spins a day for 10 days (up to 500 at 10p, or £50 of spins), each claimed before 23:59 and valid for 7 days, no wagering. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers don't qualify.
PlayOJO: a first deposit of at least £10 brings 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p (£8 of spins), winnings paid in cash with no wagering; new UK customers excluding Northern Ireland, via the designated link only. See the PlayOJO casino bonus page. Whatever you choose, the house edge still applies to your own stakes and a bonus doesn't change the long-run cost of play.
These welcome offers are modest first-deposit deals; claiming one doesn't by itself trigger a source of funds check. 18+, terms apply.
Coral and Ladbrokes are both run by LC International Limited (Entain). If you already hold an account with one Entain brand, you may not be able to open a new account with another; check the terms before signing up.
Significant terms: 18+. New players only. Offer runs 01/10/2026 to 01/02/2027. Deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10+ on slot games to get 100 free spins (selected games, £0.10 each, 48 hrs to accept, valid 7 days). No wagering on free spin winnings. Deposits by Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the Coral reviewLicence: LC International Limited, UKGC account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New customers only, from 14/11/25 until further notice. Certain deposit methods excluded. Deposit and spend £10+ on slots for 50 free spins a day during the first 10 days after first deposit and registration (max 500, £0.10 each, selected games, claim before 23:59 each day, valid 7 days). No wagering. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the Ladbrokes reviewLicence: LC International Limited, UKGC account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New UK customers (excluding Northern Ireland). First deposit only. Minimum deposit £10. 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza, £0.10 each. No wagering requirements; winnings paid in cash. Cannot be used with any other offer. Only available to players who arrive through the designated offer link. Full T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the PlayOJO reviewLicence: Skill On Net Limited, UKGC account 39326. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Decide a budget before you play: set a budget. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
Why is a casino asking where my money comes from?
Because licensed casinos must guard against money laundering and watch for signs that customers are gambling beyond their means. The Commission says bank statements help confirm your source of funds is legitimate, and operators also profile spending to spot people who may be gambling money they don't have. A request doesn't mean you're suspected of anything; it means your deposits have met the operator's own risk triggers. Our source of funds entry and customer interaction rules page explain the duties behind it.
How much do you have to deposit before a source of funds check?
There's no published figure. The Commission doesn't set a cash trigger for source of funds requests; each operator uses its own risk-based approach. The only fixed threshold in the rules is for the separate financial vulnerability check, which applies when net deposits pass £150 in a rolling 30 days and uses public records without asking you anything. Our financial vulnerability checks page explains that rule, and the net deposit entry shows how the figure is calculated.
Is a source of funds check the same as an affordability check?
No. The Gambling Commission says ‘affordability check’ is an inaccurate description and that it has no plans for affordability checks. A source of funds check is an anti-money-laundering and harm-prevention request for evidence about where your money comes from. Credit-reference financial risk assessments were piloted in 2024 and 2025 but, as of October 2026, there's been no decision to make them live. See how affordability checks affect bonuses for the full picture.
What documents are accepted for a source of funds check?
Usually recent bank statements, payslips, a P60, savings statements, or documents showing a one-off sum such as a property sale. The Commission's guidance mentions bank statements and information about irregular income, giving a pending house sale as an example. The casino will tell you which documents and date range it needs. Upload them through its own system and ask support if you're unsure. Our guide on how to verify your casino account covers safe uploading.
Can I refuse a source of funds check?
You can decline, but the Commission's guidance doesn't say what follows, so the operator's terms and legal duties decide. A casino may restrict deposits or play until it's satisfied. Money already deposited and not staked remains yours, and the Commission says terms shouldn't allow confiscation of un-staked deposits except to meet a general regulatory obligation. If you disagree with how you're treated, complain to the casino and then its ADR provider. See how to complain about a bonus for the steps.
Will a source of funds check affect my credit score?
A source of funds request where you send documents isn't a credit application, so it shouldn't affect your score. Identity checks at sign-up may search credit-reference data, so if you're concerned, ask the casino how that search is recorded on your file. The financial vulnerability check looks at public records such as bankruptcy and county court judgments. Credit-reference financial risk assessments are not live. Our KYC rules page explains what identity checks involve.
Can a casino stop my bonuses after a source of funds check?
Yes, if its checks show strong indicators of harm. Since 12 February 2023, LCCP 3.4.3 has required operators to stop marketing and new bonus take-up for customers showing strong signs of harm. A casino may also decide not to offer promotions while checks are outstanding. That isn't a penalty for claiming bonuses; it's a safeguard. Our bonuses and harm indicators page explains the rule, and why is my account restricted? covers other reasons for limits.
How long does a source of funds check take?
It depends on how quickly you send the documents and how complex your finances are. A simple payslip and statement can be reviewed quickly; one-off sums from a property sale or inheritance may need more evidence. No operator among our partners publishes a timescale for these checks. Respond promptly, send exactly what is asked, and keep a note of the date. Our page on how long casino verification takes covers the identity stage, which follows a different timetable.
Do VIP players have to prove their source of funds?
Yes. Rules in force since 31 October 2020 say that before an operator treats someone as a VIP or high-value customer, it must hold up-to-date identity, occupation and source-of-funds evidence and confirm the spending is affordable and sustainable. It must keep checking while the customer remains in the scheme, and a senior licensed manager must oversee it. See VIP scheme rules and are VIP schemes safe? for more detail.
How can I tell a real source of funds request from a scam?
A real request comes from a licensed casino you have an account with and can be seen when you log in directly. It asks you to upload through the casino's own tool. Be suspicious of texts, social media messages or emails with links asking for statements, passwords or card numbers; no casino needs your online banking login. Check the operator's licence number on the Commission's public register. Our UKGC licence number entry explains where to find it.
Gambling can be addictive. Free, confidential help is available 24 hours a day from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133. Visit GamCare.org.uk and GamCare, or block yourself from all UK-licensed gambling sites with GAMSTOP.
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